Just a reminder, as this came to my attention today.
Livestrong Across America will be arriving to San Angelo tonight.
Today's article featured in the Local/Area section of Standard Times: <as quoted below>
Tonight: Dinner at Cheddar's 6:30pm.
* When: Monday 7:30 a.m. (Breakfast at 6 a.m.)
* Where: Staybridge Suites, 1355 Knickerbocker Road.
* What: Ride out with Livestrong Across America to Brady.
Cyclists' welcome mat rolls out
BY BENJAMIN S. ROSSI, Special to the Standard-Times
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Inspired by countless stories of cancer fighters and survivors, Livestrong Across America cyclists are riding to raise funds for the Lance Armstrong foundation and will be pedaling into San Angelo tonight.
The cyclists launched the tour from San Diego on July 1, for a trek of 33 days through 33 cities over approximately 3,300 miles, set to end in the nation's capital Aug. 3.
A van of supporters are on the road with a camera crew documenting the experience.
They will be greeted by locals and San Angelo Bicycle Association members for dinner at Cheddar's restaurant tonight at 6:30 p.m.
The cyclists include Joe Haeggquist, 26, Tom Simon, 43, Britt Gober, 42, Eric Laing, 29, and Richard James, 35, all of Beaumont, who are in it for the long haul to Washington, D.C.
Riders along the way have joined up for short and long runs, but anyone is welcome to show support or simply tag along for a while.
The trip, nearly halfway complete, has had its ups and downs.
"I think I said something early on in this trip about missing rain," said Amie James, wife of LAA cyclist Richard James, on Thursday evening in an e-mail from Roswell, N.M. "Someday I'll learn to watch my mouth," she said. "Today was the third day of rain."
Despite the weather and steep grades, the group remains strong and positive.
"I just love the dedication these guys have to the ride," Amie James said.
SABA president Scott White planned to be one of the first to meet up with the cyclists in San Angelo.
"It's pretty high profile," White said. "It's kind of a neat thing because these people go through a lot of big cities, like Austin."
White said that he and several others will ride out with the group Monday morning toward Brady.
Breakfast will be provided for anyone in attendance, starting at 6 a.m., and the departure time is set for 7:30 a.m.
A bus or van will be waiting in Brady to bring back those who ride that far, White said.
"It's definitely worthwhile," he said. "We plan to take a collection and donate it to the Lance Armstrong Foundation afterward."
Greeting the team before their next stop will be Brady mayor and newspaper editor James Stewart.
Stewart said he and his group, the Jackalopes Cycling Club, planned to meet the group around 20 miles out and ride into town with them.
"I am in training," Stewart said. "But this is also a great way to spend time getting to know people."
